GMI: 5; GMI-R: 9; New QQQQ short term up-trend

The GMI is now 5 (of 6), for the first time since November 7 and the GMI-R is now 9.  (Click on table to enlarge.) Friday was the first day in the new QQQQ short term up-trend (U-1). Gmi1207  There were 144 new highs and 47 new lows in my universe of 4,000 stocks on Friday.  52% of the Nasdaq 100 stocks are back above their 30 day averages.

A trend follower never hits the top or bottom, but identifies the change in trend after it has occurred.  So, it has taken this much time since the low on November 12 for the QQQQ to turn positive.  The November bottom looks technically very similar to the bottom last  August.  That bottom was followed by a 50 day up-trend.  Time will tell if this new up-trend will last as long.  It is important to be cautious and to wade into long positions, for the trend can end abruptly at anytime.  The odds have just shifted for me, however, toward the long side.

The psychology of trend changes is interesting. When a new up-trend occurs, everyone is skeptical and the news is negative.  As the trend continues more people jump on board and there is a time when most everyone agrees that the trend is up and they stress the positives.  Confidence in the up-trend grows until the top occurs and the psychology goes into reverse.

I have written a few covered calls on growth stocks, bought some QLD, and taken small positions in a few stocks.  I am still largely in cash, however.   

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GMI: 4+; GMI-R: 7+; Going long

The GMI is at 4+ as the number of new highs has climbed above 100 (136) and the IBD Growth Mutual Fund Index is now above its 50 day average.  Even though  this rally looks weak and untimely, the train has left the station.  I am accumulating QLD and other growth stocks.

GMI: 1+; GMI-R: 4+; Indicators improving, tradeable rally?

This is the rally that I just love to resist.  The GMI is back to 1+ and the GMI-R to 4+, still well below the levels I like to see to go long.  The QQQQ is underperforming the SPY and the DIA.  The QQQQ is in the 18th day of its short term down-trend.  But a lot of the leaders are rising and all of the indexes I follow have bullish MACD daily crossovers.  The Worden T2108 is back to 34% and now above its 30 day average. I am beginning to think this is a tradeable rally.  But I don’t trust it to last.  Still, I am wading in on the long side and setting close stops.